​China has an amazing range of wonderful (and sometimes weird!) seasonal produce available, and you can buy much of it at your local supermarket. But for me, it’s more fun and interesting (not to mention economical) to shop for produce at local markets. Produce markets are all over China, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding a few in your neighborhood. They vary in ‘formality’, from vendors and stalls in permanent structures, to piles of fruit and vegetable for sale on the sidewalk. No matter which type you choose to buy your goods from, you’re bound to love produce markets in China; but check out these tips before you go!

Before you go:

One of the most important things you need to know before buying: numbers in Chinese. Check out these videos to quickly learn how to count 1-10 in Mandarin—and if you can reach 11-99 you should be in good shape! Some basic Chinese is useful, but if you can’t count you’re running the risk of overpaying or not getting the right change back. To lessen the chance of getting ripped-off, if you can, listen to and observe locals buying their produce. That way you can get an idea of the prices they’re paying and expect to pay the same. Also remember that prices listed on signs or quoted to you are per 500g, not per kilogram. Don’t get fooled into thinking you’re grabbing an amazing bargain on bananas and then forking out twice as much as you thought.

Another handy tip is to bring your own canvas bags or a small backpack to carry everything in. Most of the vendors will give you a small plastic bag each item you buy. This can mean a lot of plastic waste in your house (which isn’t great for the environment), and sometimes the plastic bags aren’t great quality and can break.

What to buy:

Produce market in Heping District, Tianjin

Be sure to look around before you settle on which goods to buy. Vendor prices, as well as range and quality of produce can vary greatly from stall to stall, and market to market. I definitely recommend you check out all that’s on offer before you settle on what to buy. After a few visits to the same produce market, you might find a particular vendor whose produce looks best. I’ve found that by shopping at my few favorite stalls often, they treat me very well, and even give me a discount, or something for free!​Usually these kinds of markets aren’t just for fruit and vegetables; you’ll also find seafood, meat, nuts, noodles, eggs, homewares, and even key cutters and tailors. So keep an open mind when you go and you might end up coming home with some handy extras for the house.

It’s also not a bad idea to go with an empty stomach! If your local produce market is a permanent structure (not the transient street-side type), it’s likely there’ll be a range of delicious breads, dumplings, and rice dishes to sample. And most importantly, don’t be scared! Just jump in there and buy what you need, but also try some of the stranger looking fruit and vegetables. It won’t be long before you’re a total produce market pro!

Useful Vocabulary

Want to brush up on some simple vocab before going? Check out these videos to learn some simple fruit and vegetables vocabulary in Mandarin Chinese.

I find the fruit and vegetables are much fresher and last much longer than those at the supermarket. For one weeks’ worth of vegetables from a Tianjin produce market, I usually pay about 30CNY (or USD$5). You can also be in and out of the produce market fairly quickly once you’ve been there a few times and know what you want, from where. There’s no waiting in lines to get your produce weighed and tagged (as in supermarkets) and no waiting to check out. So get out there and check out some of the produce markets in China!

Have you been to a produce market in China? What did you like most about it?

About the Author

Penny de Vine is a thirty-something Australian freelance writer with a love for travel and trying anything new! You can follow her on Twitter or Facebook.